Simon Rowell

Partner

Expertise

• Commercialisation
• Trade Marks
• Corporate Services
• Clean Technology

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Waikato (1998)
• Bachelor of Management Studies (Hons) - Economics, University of Waikato (1998)
• Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
• Registered Patent Attorney (New Zealand)

Simon has expertise in negotiating, drafting, reviewing and advising on a wide range of local and cross-border IP agreements and his advice is particularly sought after by innovative New Zealand companies in the clean technology space. He has been a key driver of James & Wells' innovative partnerships with the entrepreneurs who develop products the firm is helping to protect and commercialise.

Simon has a strong interest in corporate responsibility, represents James & Wells at the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development meetings, and is the partner in charge of sustainable initiatives being implemented at James & Wells.

Simon is a Past-President of the Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand, and is currently organising a conference for the Licensing Executives Society International with the theme "commercialising innovation to save the world".  Simon is a Past-President of the Entrepreneurs' Organisation New Zealand and was named 2011 Member of the Year by that organisation. He is a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys and a member of the New Zealand Law Society.

When not spending time with his wife, little girl and great dane, Simon is learning to fly fish for trout and play the guitar.

What Simon's clients say about him:

Dan McElrea, CEO, Puku Ltd:
"Puku is an ideas factory with a stable of IP in the area of connection and articulation technologies with a commercialisation history in the leisure goods industry.  

Simon guided us with pragmatism and a soothingly unflappable style through 8 months of difficult sale and licencing contract negotiations to the point of signed agreements, money in the bank and all-round relief.  

Simon's capacity to draft/revise with great speed and precision impressed as did his judgement of when to react, when not to, when to concede a point and when not to.   These abilities are not taught at law school, but come from solid experience and great commercial intuition.

Simon was a real pleasure to work with and we look forward to working with him in the near future."